Soon you may go to Meridian to buy resale clothing — and bring hope to African children
Update (Aug. 20, 2025): Two Mustard Seeds has announced a grand-opening celebration Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 21-23.
Update Aug. 14, 2024: The Meridian City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 13, voted unanimously to approve the rezoning needed for the home at 817 N. Meridian Road to be converted to the proposed store.
Treasure Valley shoppers: You may soon be able to save money on women’s clothing, accessories and home decor while helping a faith-based nonprofit raise money to educate students in Africa.
A 122-year-old house in downtown Meridian is set to become the home of the Two Mustard Seeds Women’s Resale Shop, whose proceeds will fund scholarships for high school in Kenya.
The thrift shop is part of the efforts of Expansion International, a Christian nonprofit that has been in the Treasure Valley since 2008, to improve economic development in Kenya through education programs and more.
‘‘We think it’s going to be a great asset to the city of Meridian, and we are excited that it is so close to the downtown area,’’ Arlene Hardy, executive director of Expansion International, told the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission.
The commission voted Thursday, June 6, to recommend the rezoning of 0.6 acres at 817 N. Meridian Road in the Old Town area.
The shop would sell upscale women’s clothing, accessories and home decor items donated by people in Boise, Meridian and Nampa. Volunteers would manage the sorting, pricing and stocking of items. The store would be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Store builds on an Eagle Nazarene Church tradition
The idea to open what Hardy describes as a ”boutique-style” shop developed from the success of the 11-year-old Two Mustard Seeds Resale, a three-day thrift-shopping event that happens annually at the Eagle Nazarene Church. On this occasion, the community donates second-hand clothes, shoes, handbags and home decor, which are then organized by the volunteers running the event. About a thousand people attend the sale each year, according to Hardy.
‘‘We have often thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had a permanent location, so that instead of doing this once a year, we’re doing this all year long, allowing us to raise more money to get the scholarships in Kenya,’’’ Hardy told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview .
The Planning and Zoning Commission showed full support for the initiative. Chairperson Andrew Seal said he was happy to see that there will be parking for customers. He described the house as ‘‘a beautiful piece of property that’s going to be well maintained in the future.’’
Rezonings must be approved by the City Council, so Expansion International expects to present its proposal in front of the council in the next 30 days, according to Linda Ritter, associate planner on the project.
If everything works out as planned, the historic house will become the new home of the Two Mustard Seeds Women’s Resale Shop around October or November, Hardy said.
Business and Local News Editor David Staats contributed the Aug. 20, 2025, update.
This story was originally published June 12, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
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